President Obama Tours Global Green USA Green Seed School in Lower 9th Ward

Green Renovation Saves $23,000 Annually, Improves Kids Health, Creates Green Jobs

Green Rebuilding of New Orleans Needs to be Accelerated to Create Sustainable Economy and Fight Climate Change
 
October 15th, New Orleans – President Obama today visited one of the schools that Global Green USA targeted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to rebuild green.  Thanks to the Bush Clinton Katrina Fund, Global Green provided a $70,000 grant and free technical expertise to the Dr. Martin Luther King Charter School, which is helping to save approximately $23,000 a year in energy expenses that can now be spent on education.  Global Green is investing more than $2 million to help rebuild green schools in New Orleans and has worked with the Recovery School District to insure that all new schools are built to a LEED certified green standard.  
 
“It is great to see President Obama in New Orleans today, a city that still needs much help to recover after Hurricane Katrina,” commented Matt Petersen. “The Big Easy is a place where the campaign promises and Presidential commitments for economic recovery, green jobs, and fighting climate change can all come together.  We look forward to seeing dramatic improvements on all fronts by the time of President Obama’s next visit.”

According to Time Magazine, “No organization is doing more to green New Orleans than Global Green USA.”  Global Green has been responsible for the investment of tens of millions of dollars in new green housing and school projects which have created thousands of green jobs.  Just a few blocks from the MLK School, Global Green is building the Holy Cross Project, the first sustainable village in the 9th Ward, with lead funding partner The Home Depot Foundation. The completed project will include five single family homes, a multi-unit apartment complex, and a Community Center.  The Holy Cross Project features green products and energy efficient systems that support sustainable living for low-income families.
 
Global Green has also launched an innovative Build it Back Green initiative to help more than 10,000 families rebuild their homes green.  Global Green USA offers materials and programs which emphasize steps that all citizens can take to reduce both their utility bills and carbon footprints. Throughout the year, Global Green USA holds a series of panel discussions uniting top green-building experts to educate New Orleanians of the best green building practices. These panels provided an outlet for green information as returning residents made important construction and contracting decisions.
 
About Global Green USA
Global Green USA is committed to helping New Orleanians rebuild a sustainable city by providing green building information for homeowners, residents, builders and architects in New Orleans, mirroring Global Green's national and  regional initiatives of "fostering a global value shift toward a  sustainable and secure future." Visit Global Green USA's Green Building Resource Center at 841 Carondolet Street, New Orleans, LA  70130.

Global Green USA is a national environmental organization that merges innovative research, cutting-edge community-based projects and targeted advocacy to create a sustainable future. Global Green USA has helped green nearly $20 billion in affordable housing, school, college and municipal building construction through technical assistance, partnerships, advocacy, and education. The organization has written, and implemented green building, energy efficiency, and solar power guidelines in addition to legislation and incentives at the local, state, and federal level. We have also pioneered partnerships with countless non-profits and government agencies.